It’s finally here – the Kosciuszko Institute’s CYBERSEC Global 2020, one of leading cybersecurity conferences in Europe is expending its outreach to other continents. It will be held on 28–30 September, a most auspicious date since it is the exact same as the very first edition back in 2015. “What started off as a relatively small gathering has evolved into an absolutely unmissable three-day event bringing together academics, governments officials, international institutions and key industry leaders. In cybersecurity conference circuit, CYBERSEC distinguishes itself from other conferences by not focusing only on the technology but instead taking a holistic, multi-domain, and strategic approach to cybersecurity as the backbone of further digital development of nations and economies. Many topics will be devoted to the dependencies of societies and economies on emerging and disruptive technologies and challenges and threats which multiplied during the COVID-19 pandemic and decoupling of digital supply chains” says Izabela Albrycht, President of the Kosciuszko Institute, the CYBERSEC organiser.

We live in unprecedented times when the novel coronavirus pandemic shows even more clearly the bright and dark sides of digital transformation, as well as the need to cooperate in building a safe cyberspace. “In that light this edition of CYBERSEC will be held under the leitmotif ‘Together Against Adversarial Internet’ – meaning that technologies, although their primary goal is to benefit societies, sometimes play another role as they enable individuals with malicious intent to use them in an adversarial manner, one that hurts rather than benefits societies and economies, and that only an alliance of like-minded partners can stem the rise of malicious actors and authoritarian models of technology deployment as well as secure the cyberspace,” adds Izabela Albrycht.

Mirroring past editions, this year’s CYBERSEC will be composed of four thematic Streams. The first one, the State Stream, will focus on the multi-faceted problem of how tech should be regulated for it to develop in a secure manner without slowing down its natural progress. Topics in this Stream include global surveillance, digital governance, and decoupling in the digital supply chain. The second one, the Future Stream, deals with finding a measured approach to emerging and future technologies and the possibilities and challenges they’ll likely bring to the fore. It will tackle important issues such as quantum computing, threats to digital identity, and human-level artificial intelligence. Next to it comes the Business Stream, focused on the private sector – the main provider of technology and as such remaining on the very frontline of innovation, research, and development. Here the debates will home in on themes such as countering adversity in the data-driven economy, the role of technology providers in ensuring a peaceful internet, COVID-19 redefining critical sectors of economies. Finally there’s the Defence Stream focusing on the technological developments of the military sector and its implications for international security. Expect subjects such as the military use of 5G, information warfare, and cybersecurity of outer space among others to be discussed on this Stream.

On the speaker front, this year CYBERSEC features personalities such as Margrethe Vestager (EVP, European Commission), Mircea Geoană (Deputy Secretary General, NATO), Sir Julian King (Former European Commissioner for Security Union), Flavio Aggio (Chief Information Security Officer, WHO), Carine Claeys (EU Special Envoy for Space; Head of the Space Task Force, EEAS), Michael Chertoff (Co-Chair, Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace; Former US Secretary of Homeland Security), Eva Kaili (Member of the European Parliament; Chair, Panel for the Future of Science and Technology, European Parliament), Paul Timmers (Research Associate, Oxford University; Former Director, Sustainable & Secure Society Directorate, DG CONNECT, European Commission), Shin Oya (Senior Consulting Fellow, Asia Pacific Initiative), Samir Saran (President, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), India), and Marietje Schaake (International Policy Director, Cyber Policy Center, Stanford University; President, CyberPeace Institute).

While historically, this conference has been centred on Europe, this year’s event will extend its range to discuss and tackle truly global strategic cybersecurity challenges by including high-profile names from countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, India, South Africa, Israel, and UAE.

It will be also open and free for everyone interested in broadening their knowledge and getting insights about cybersecurity and how new technologies affect geopolitical shifts and strategic competition between global players. For more information about the CYBERSEC Global 2020 and for the registration process, visit the website https://cybersecforum.eu.

EUROPEAN CYBERSECURITY FORUM – CYBERSEC is one of leading cybersecurity conferences in Europe, organised by the Kosciuszko Institute since 2015. Throughout its six years of history, CYBERSEC has partnered with important international institutions such as NATO, European Commission and European Parliament and has organised 11 editions of CYBERSEC Forums in Europe (Warsaw, Kraków, Katowice and Brussels) and in the United States (Washington) including the participation of renowned figures from different walks of life invested in bringing awareness to cyberthreats. It has also been involved in other region-wide group efforts to provide a secure and safe framework to navigate cyberspace, chief among them the Three Seas Initiative. Furthermore, the EUROPEAN CYBERSECURITY FORUM has been an important advocate voice for a secure rollout of the 5G network, knowledge sharing and upholding good practices in the field of data privacy, and promoting respect in the EU for the NIS Directive among other endeavours. Throughout the years, CYBERSEC has hosted 748 speakers from more than 45 countries, more than 400 accredited journalists, enjoyed the support of 293 Partners and Patrons, and welcomed more than 5580 participants.

CONTACT:
Jakub Wasiak, PR and Media Relations Director
jakub.wasiak@ik.org.pl, +48 601 973 680

Anna Maria Trawińska, PR Manager
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THE KOSCIUSZKO INSTITUTE – A LEADING POLISH THINK TANK

Founded in the year 2000, the Kosciuszko Institute tirelessly runs a range of national and international projects devoted to multifaceted aspects of cybersecurity. As a think tank, it attracts leading global experts and analysts, initiating innovative and pioneering ventures. The Kosciuszko Institute is the originator and main organiser of the European Cybersecurity Forum – CYBERSEC. Organised since 2015, Forum enjoys international renown and recognition – it has been included in Concise Courses’ list of five most important European events devoted to cybersecurity. Meanwhile, Izabela Albrycht, President of the Kosciuszko Institute and Chair of CYBERSEC Organising Committee, as well as Joanna Świątkowska, PhD, CYBERSEC Programme Director, were recognised amongst New Europe 100 Challengers 2017 – a list of outstanding challengers from Central and Eastern Europe prepared by the Financial Times, Res Publica, Google and International Visegrad Fund. Representatives of the Kosciuszko Institute are recognised as sector experts and are thus regularly invited by the media to discuss cybersecurity, share their insightful opinions and forecasts for the future.